The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-04-30

Christ. by whom we have now received the
atonemen+."l
The vicarious atonement of Christ,
as it is called, has been held by all the
churches, Roman and Protestant, ex-
cept the Unitarian and Universalist,
and perhaps few others, as a funda-
mental and vital doctrine of Christian
ity. If this is taken out, it is said:
1.-The mission of Christ becomes value
less to the world; and in such cases is
wholly unmeaning in its significance,
and destitute Of purpose" The sacri-
fees of the Old Testament were only so
many bloody rites, without any other
than arbitrary authority; and taught
no lessons to future generations, other
than mere arbitrary obedience to ON
nipotent authority, If the blood of Christ
is not typified by them. The blood of
Christ, in such case; the sorrows of
Gethsemane; the bloody sweat the
sufferings of the cross, had naught
to do with the redemption Of man,
except as mere incidents in the life,
and death Of any other leader or
teacher of humanity. In short, it is
persistently declared from every self
styled orthodox pulpit of Christendom,
that, ''whosoever denies the doctrine
OF Christ's vicarious atonement," is
anti Christian, and virtually infdel to
the Christian truth.
These are grave charges, and if true,
the discussion which is contemplated
in this discourse, is of the highest impor-
tanee to the person who designs to be
truly and sincerely Christian indeed.
viii our orthodox friends submit to
such verdict against whomsoever is
found to be really guilty of denying the
vicarious atonement of Christ, even
though it should fall upon themselves?
We shall see presently.
Before discussing this topic in the
least, bring forward this specific and
comprehensive charge and Indictment
against the doctrines of the self-styled
orthodox churches Of the present day,
to wit; While they have in the past,
and do at the present time, preach the
doctrine of Christ's vicarious punish
ment, they have not for the last twelve
hundred years, and do not now, really
preach Christ's vicarious atonement, in
any sense. And it is further asserted,
that the Liberal churches which have
reappeared in the last and present CEN
tury, and who are now leavening all the
churches with the primitive doctrines
Of the. New Testament, are the only
ones who really preach the doctrine of
any atonement for sin at all. This may
sound strange, but the charge and in
dictment will be made good. But we
must do this step by step. Then, to
proceed understandingly, we inquire:
l. Who is the injured party where sin
or crime has been committed ? Not,
surely, the infinite and eternal Jeho-
yah Can worm sin against Infnity?
1t may transgress law of its own nat
ure, and thereby destroy its own COM
fort, or its own life. But it most GER
tainly cannot injure or offend Omnip-
offence. The ten commandments and
the golden rule were not made to guard
the interests of the God of the universe;
but to guard the interests and safety of
his creature man "Thou shalt not kill,
thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not bear
false Witness" and the rest were en-
craven upon tablets of stone, solely
and purely to guard mans interests,
not Gods. The prohibition, "Thou
shalt make to myself no craven image,
and bow down to no other gods before
me, is purely in the interest of man.
And this, and all other prohibitory laws,
were given to deter man from making
a fool of himself, by worshiping that
which is senseless, or to prevent him
from doing something else which is
misleading. injurious, or ruinous to
himself; or to sternly deter him from
injuring others. And this is done be-
cause of Gods infinite care, and jealous
oversight over all his children. Not
over some Of his favored ones, but the
unjust, as well as the just. Because, ac-
cOrding TO the irreyersible laws of our
according to the eternal laws of
nature, the ''iniqnity of the fathers is
visited upon the children unto the third
and fourth generation of them that
hate God and despise his laws" as is
often seen i'll case of the drunkard, OF
in the families of the lewd or licentious,
and among the offspring of thieves or
murderers, or among gypsies and other
professional tramps. Because of Gods
Infinite tenderness, he would guard the
children from such an inheritance of
evil, by warning the parents under the
severest chastisement and penalties
from such requests of hereditary dispo-
sitions to RIGHTEOUSNESS, thievery, va
graney and drunkenness. Therefore.
the whole law" as well as the whole
gospel was given to guard and protect
man. Man can add nothing to infnity
by his obedience, or by his highest vir-
tues; he can add great deal by his